Population
Need for assistance
About this topic
Need for assistance measures people who report needing help with self-care, body movement, or communication because of a disability, a long-term health condition, or older age. It is a high-needs indicator rather than a general measure of disability.
This topic is useful for planning accessible facilities, care services, respite, and support for carers. The measure is based on self-report in the Census, so it should be interpreted with care and read alongside unpaid care and other disability-related indicators.
Interpretation notes
- The measure is self-reported and records need for help with core activities, so it is not a complete measure of disability prevalence.
- It applies to all persons and is strongest as an indicator of higher support need when read with unpaid care and ageing data.
Key insight
In 2021, 75-84 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Greater Geelong (C), accounting for 20.4% (3,400 people). This share was higher than Regional Vic. (18.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 75-84 year olds, which increased by 837 people and 1.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Greater Geelong (C) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Greater Geelong (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greater Geelong (C), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
224
2021 rate
1.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
224
1.4%
0.0pp
5-14
2021 count
1,907
2021 rate
5.9%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,907
5.9%
+1.4pp
15-19
2021 count
747
2021 rate
5.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
747
5.0%
+1.4pp
20-24
2021 count
536
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
536
3.1%
+0.7pp
25-34
2021 count
869
2021 rate
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
869
2.3%
+0.2pp
35-44
2021 count
888
2021 rate
2.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
888
2.6%
0.0pp
45-54
2021 count
1,298
2021 rate
3.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,298
3.9%
0.0pp
55-64
2021 count
1,876
2021 rate
5.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,876
5.8%
+0.2pp
65-74
2021 count
2,611
2021 rate
8.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
2,611
8.8%
+0.3pp
75-84
2021 count
3,400
2021 rate
20.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
3,400
20.4%
+1.2pp
85+
2021 count
3,374
2021 rate
49.3%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
3,374
49.3%
+3.9pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
+17
0.0pp
5-14
+640
+1.4pp
15-19
+231
+1.4pp
20-24
+162
+0.7pp
25-34
+238
+0.2pp
35-44
+114
0.0pp
45-54
+129
0.0pp
55-64
+252
+0.2pp
65-74
+617
+0.3pp
75-84
+837
+1.2pp
85+
+442
+3.9pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Greater Geelong (C). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 224 | 1.4% | 1.5% | 207 | 1.4% | 1.2% | +17 | 0.0pp |
| 5-14 | 1,907 | 5.9% | 5.5% | 1,267 | 4.5% | 3.9% | +640 | +1.4pp |
| 15-19 | 747 | 5.0% | 4.6% | 516 | 3.6% | 3.4% | +231 | +1.4pp |
| 20-24 | 536 | 3.1% | 3.7% | 374 | 2.4% | 2.9% | +162 | +0.7pp |
| 25-34 | 869 | 2.3% | 2.8% | 631 | 2.1% | 2.4% | +238 | +0.2pp |
| 35-44 | 888 | 2.6% | 3.1% | 774 | 2.6% | 3.0% | +114 | 0.0pp |
| 45-54 | 1,298 | 3.9% | 4.3% | 1,169 | 3.9% | 4.2% | +129 | 0.0pp |
| 55-64 | 1,876 | 5.8% | 6.0% | 1,624 | 5.6% | 5.8% | +252 | +0.2pp |
| 65-74 | 2,611 | 8.8% | 8.8% | 1,994 | 8.5% | 8.1% | +617 | +0.3pp |
| 75-84 | 3,400 | 20.4% | 18.7% | 2,563 | 19.2% | 17.0% | +837 | +1.2pp |
| 85+ | 3,374 | 49.3% | 46.4% | 2,932 | 45.4% | 42.3% | +442 | +3.9pp |
| Total | 17,726 | 6.5% | 6.9% | 14,054 | 6.0% | 6.0% | +3,672 | +0.5pp |